With warmer weather returning and Britain heading for record temperatures this May, thousands are expected to flock to parks across the country to soak up the sun and enjoy alfresco picnics.
From lounging on the fresh grass to enjoying a scenic spread and sharing sandwiches beneath the shade of a tree, there’s something timeless and joyful about a picnic in the great outdoors. But with so many beautiful locations across the UK, where are the best spots to roll out your blanket?
Well, Swansea has been named one if the best spots in the UK to picnic – in fact it ranked second place, beaten only by Reading.
The research by idealo analysed the top 30 UK cities using key picnic criteria, including the percentage of green space, park quality, safety scores, and average summer temperature, to reveal which cities offer the most inviting settings for a picnic this summer.
The top 10 UK cities for a picnic:
| Rank | City | % green spaces | Quality of parks | Safety score | Average summer temperature | Total Picnic Score / 10 |
| 1 | Reading | 42.0% | 78.3 | 55.3 | 21.7 | 8.52 |
| 2 | Swansea | 46.5% | 84.4 | 65.7 | 14.3 | 8.08 |
| 3 | Edinburgh | 31.8% | 81.1 | 68.8 | 12.7 | 6.63 |
| 4 | Cambridge | 24.4% | 86 | 64.6 | 15.0 | 6.53 |
| 5 | Brighton | 27.3% | 85.8 | 60.9 | 14.7 | 6.46 |
| 6 | Nottingham | 42.9% | 72.3 | 49.3 | 14.0 | 6.36 |
| 7 | Sheffield | 34.0% | 88.1 | 56.5 | 12.0 | 6.25 |
| 8 | Cardiff | 31.6% | 78 | 60.3 | 13.7 | 6.24 |
| 9 | Leeds | 41.9% | 69.7 | 54.9 | 12.0 | 6.04 |
| 10 | Liverpool | 32.2% | 79.17 | 51 | 13.3 | 5.74 |
Reading has been crowned the best city in the UK for a picnic, earning a score of 8.21/10. Nestled along the scenic Thames and Kennet rivers, the city enjoys the UK’s warmest average summer temperature at a pleasant 21.7°C. With 42% of green spaces and a park quality score of 78.3 out of 100, Reading offers a perfect setting for lazy afternoons, alfresco lunches, and unwinding under the sun.
Swansea ranks second among the UK’s top picnic cities, with a total score of 8.08/10. Researchers say that Swansea’s coastal setting means picnic lovers can enjoy the best of both worlds – relaxing on sandy beaches like Three Cliffs Bay and Rhossili, where a waterproof picnic blanket is a must after a day splashing in the sea. But the city’s parks deserve just as much attention. Singleton Park, for example, offers a peaceful escape close to the city centre, contributing to the city’s impressive park quality index score of 84.38.
The only thing Swansea falls a little short on is the temperature, with average summer highs reaching just 14.7°C. So, you might want to pack a light jacket.
Edinburgh claims third place with a picnic score of 8.01/10, proving that cooler summer temperatures, averaging 12.7°C, don’t take away from it being a picnic capital.. As the safest city in the ranking, with a safety score of 68.78, it offers peace of mind alongside postcard-worthy spots like Princes Street Gardens and Holyrood Park. With a park quality index of 81.07, Edinburgh offers a picturesque and well-kept setting for a memorable park alfresco escape.
